Alfa Junior detailed ahead of Q3 Australian launch

THE Alfa Romeo Junior will reach Australia in the third quarter of this year, nailing the target its maker promised when first unveiled this time in 2024.

New local details reveal that we can expect the Junior to be offered only in petrol-electric hybrid and single-motor electric forms, with the recently unveiled Junior Q4 to leave its electric dual-motor, all-paw configuration at home. 

The hybrid Junior, known as ‘Ibrida’, is more of a mild hybrid than any conventional sort. It pairs a turbocharged 1.2-litre three-cylinder petrol engine with a 48V electric system – packing a 0.9kWh lithium-ion battery and a 21kW electric motor into the six-speed dual-clutch gearbox – to produce 100kW and 230Nm.

Alfa claims the Junior Ibrida will reach 100km/h in 8.9 seconds, but more importantly, it can offer electric-only driving for “more than 50 per cent of the time” in parking manoeuvres, stop-start urban driving, and highway cruising at speeds up to 150km/h. 

With this capability, Alfa Romeo says the Ibrida model will return a fuel consumption figure of just 4.1L/100km on the NEDC test cycle – although Alfa’s Euro-market specs show figures from the more relevant WLTP cycle at 4.9L/100km.

Buyers seeking a full-electric solution will be offered the Junior Elettrica, although Australia misses out on the sportier 177kW/345Nm Veloce flavour in favour of the standard 115kW/260Nm model. 

This variant, being 240kg heavier than the Ibrida’s 1305kg, is a touch a slower to 100km/h at 9.0 seconds – although buyers are unlikely to be comparing these metrics. Of greater interest will be its electric driving range, rated at up to 407km on the WLTP test cycle. 

That figure comes courtesy of a 54kWh battery pack, with a 400V electrical system that promises to add 100km of range with 10 minutes of charging, or load it from 10 to 80 per cent charge in “approximately” 30 minutes. 

Whether buyers choose the Ibrida or Elettrica forms, the Junior is equipped with the following kit: 18-inch alloy wheels, automatic full LED matrix headlights, LED tail-lamps, two-tone black roof, privacy glass, and gloss-black exterior mirrors.

Inside, there’s ‘Spiga’ seats with combination black cloth & leatherette trim with red accents, a leather steering wheel, 60:40 split rear seats, front and rear floor mats, aluminium pedals and door sills, and a height adjustable cargo floor.

Interior tech and comfort includes a 10.25-inch main display with wireless CarPlay and Android Auto, DAB+ digital radio and six speakers, another 10.25-inch screen for the driver, Alfa connected services with navigation, a wireless charging pad, front USB-A and -C ports, one rear USB-C port, keyless entry and go.

The model also scores single-zone air conditioning, electric park brake with auto hold, six-way power-adjustable front seats with two-way lumbar, driver massaging seat, six-way manual-adjustable front passenger seat, heated front seats, power liftgate with handsfree function, and a frameless auto-dimming rear view mirror.

Safety and driver assistance includes six airbags, ‘level 2’ autonomous driving, front, rear and side parking sensors, reversing camera with dynamic lines, adaptive cruise control, blind spot assist, autonomous emergency braking (AEB) with vulnerable road user detection, lane support system (LDW + LKA), driver behaviour warning, traffic sign recognition and intelligent speed control, tyre pressure monitoring system, rain sensing wipers, and seat belt reminders.

The Junior will be sold with a five-year / unlimited-kilometre vehicle warranty, while Elettrica variants will also include an eight-year / 160,000-kilometre high-voltage battery warranty.

Pricing is still to be revealed, but buyers should expect Alfa’s more premium image to position the electric Junior somewhere above the mechanically related Jeep Avenger EV, which begins from $49,990 before on-road costs. For the Junior Elettrica, a starting point closer to $60K will be more likely. 

Among the Junior’s rivals in Australia will be the $48K Lexus LBX hybrid, $60K Volvo EX30 EV, $55K Renault Megane E-Tech, $54K Hyundai Kona Electric, $47K Kia EV3 – and the related Peugeot e-2008, if it ever returns to Australia.